The Last Bell
May 11, 2026 —
Andrew Fowlie
Read The Last Bell by Donald McRae. A thoughtful and moving book about boxers and boxing, worthy of the William Hill nomination that drew me to it. McRae is a veteran sports journalist, and writes about grief and death in his personal life and in boxing bouts that end in tragedy.
The case of Patrick Day is particularly poignant. His brothers remark that he had so many qualities that boxing didn't value. I was already conflicted and ambivalent about the sport, but no longer think noble champions, even Oleksandr Usyk, can justify or redeem it.
RIP Patrick Day.